Weight Watchers and Slimmers at War

As ESSEX is dubbed an obesity "time bomb" after figures revealed nearly a quarter of people are dangerously overweight.: meanwhile Rosemary Conley declares war on Weight Watchers today

"Our slimmers consistently achieve astonishing weight losses because my diets are based on calorie counting! I really question whether WeightWatchers understand the mentality of the dieter with their U-Turn on their calorie based principles." says Rosemary Conley, CBE

Claiming herself to be the UK's leading Diet and Fitness expert, Rosemary Conley, remains strong in the belief that calories are the way forward and that they are the only way dieters will lose vast amounts of weight at a sensible pace and keep it off.

WeightWatchers is meanwhile apparently discarding its famous fat and calorie-based 'Points' plan, in favour of a new points system that allows alcohol and fast food.

"Tell this to a dieter, struggling to shift the weight, and they will think that they can do it every night. Dieters don't buy into the concept that this is reserved for special occasions only. Fast foods, like burgers and beer, offer little nutritional value to someone on a health kick. In addition it encourages dieters to eat junk food instead of selecting healthier meal options."

Leading UK Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says they are both wrong.

" The trouble is everybody is different. The jigsaw puzzle that leads to successful, sustainable weight loss has a big piece that is based on emotional wellbeing and the psychology of motivation and compliance. There's no doubt that some people do respond well to the group support of weightwatcher's approach and the dictatorial Rosemary Conley approach. Certainly exercise is another important part of the weight loss jigsaw, but for many people neither approach is perfect or sustainable" Yvonne reveals.

There are a number of underlying health problems that can either thwart sustainable weight loss or make it frustratingly much more difficult than usual to deal with - these health conditions should be ruled out first.

Calorie counting is a very simplistic way to lose weight and can lead to easier weight gain in the future. Great for weight watchers as you have less chance of ever being able to leave the club but not the best for you.

It's nutrients your body needs not calories, so the Weight Watchers change is sensible but not if they still refuse to remove nutritionally worthless foods from the basic concept and opt for quality rather than quantity.

Likewise Rosemary's 'fruit is evil' approach is equally over simplistic and based on the assumption that all dieters are stupid.

By far the most successful sustainable method of weight loss is to educate yourself about what your body really needs and why, if you felt you had to see your nutritionist every week for the rest of your life we would feel we were not doing our job.

Of course some people don't want to think for themselves but we find when people actually understand the way to eat and why it's important and then start to feel optimally healthy rather than just 'not ill' they are far more self motivated.

"We rarely need to see clients more than 3 to 4 times unless there's a serious health condition to deal with, empowering patients to be in charge of their own health is much more fruitful not just for weightloss but optimal health too." says Yvonne.

British Heart Foundation Phoney Diet

The British Heart Foundation have lashed out at a diet claiming to be a BHF diet. Some might say a bit rich considering the fairly non-committal dietary advice usually dished out by BHF , but this fake BHF diet is particularly bad and includes items that even the UK govt warns against eating.

BHF senior heart health dietitian, Victoria Taylor, said:

“Apart from being wholly unappetising with the likes of two frankfurters with a cup of cabbage and half a cup of carrots for a meal, this ( bogus BHF ) diet is so restrictive in terms of the range and quantity of food that it lacks a number of nutrients we need to stay healthy.

“The lack of fibre means followers could develop constipation while long-term use could also leave you deficient in calcium and iron, which can result in fragile bones and teeth and feeling constantly tired and lethargic if left unchecked.

“Most people are likely to lose largely water and some muscle, rather than the fat they really want to shed on this kind of crash diet. Over time, the muscle loss can be bad news as it means that the rate your body burns calories, whether active or resting, can actually slow down – the last thing dieters want.

Yvonne Bishop-Weston Leading UK Nutritionist and Health Consultant claims the trouble is most dieters suddenly reach a crisis point and want quick fix solutions and don't dare think about the consequences.

Yvonne says;

"Most diet products are trying to tie you in for ever in a catch 22 situation of carry on or gain weight again.

"Vary rarely is there any scientific basis for these diets, or if there is it is short term and completely forgetting that it defies the individual body's inbuilt natural instincts and can often increase risks of chronic diseases"

"Low Fat products are often full of cheap sugar or artificial sweeteners, Low Carb products are often full of cheap fat and devoid of natural soluble fibre, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants."

The Dukan diet tries to skip round the failings of The Atkins diet with spoonfuls of oatbran (hmm.. Yum Yum) but still fails to reach the eight a day portions of fruit and vegetables shown in a recent major study by Oxford University that you need to dramatically reduce the fatal risks of heart disease."

It seems the best way of achieving a long term solution for a weight loss diet that is sustainable, practical and healthy is to visit a qualified, experienced, competent nutritionist who can work out exactly what your body needs to be optimally fit and healthy and how to fit that into your normal busy working schedule.

The harsh truth there is no simple, easy, yet to be discovered, quick fix solution to years of nutritional abuse of your body, if it sounds too good to be true, that's because it is. Your body needs real food, complete food, natural food, not the latest patented gimmicks. You also need to exercise to build muscle and yes that requires protein but not the sort of protein that is processed and comes free with spoonfuls of saturated animal fat and dietary cholesterol. Most importantly you need to deal with stress and the effects of stress on your hormones and immune system a positive outlook and motivation is the first hurdle to sustained weight-loss" warns Yvonne

To book an appointment with top UK nutritionists visit Nutritionist London, Nutritionist Hampshire

Dangers of Weight Loss Diet Pills

Diet Pills Can Cause Liver Damage!

News broke today of a new report on diet pills such as ALLI (the fat busting pill in the windows of almost every chemist and pharmacy in the UK) that suggests these miracle cure super magic bullet diet pills can increase the risk of liver damage.

The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is investigating reports of liver damage in patients taking diet pills containing the chemical orlistat, an ingredient in the popular over-the-counter drug Alli and its prescription version Xenical says www.newsday.com

While the FDA has not sent out a public warning about the drug, it is looking at reports that 32 cases of serious liver damage have been identified from 1999 to 2008, including six cases of liver failure. All but two of the injuries occurred outside the United States.


"We estimate that since 1999, more than 11 million prescriptions have been dispensed, and we see 32 adverse events around the world. It's a fairly unusual occurrence [for a] very popular drug," an FDA spokeswoman said.

Orlistat blocks the intestines from absorbing fat when taken up to three times a day with meals. The FDA approved Xenical in 1999 for weight management in conjunction with a reduced-calorie diet. Alli, which contains half the dose of orlistat, was cleared for nonprescription use in 2007.

Both drugs are marketed by British drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, though Xenical is manufactured by Swiss firm Roche.

The makers Glaxo Smithkline (GSK) have dismissed claims that the research proves diet pills such as Alli can cause liver damage, suggesting it's the fact that people are fat that makes them more prone to liver problems, not their miracle diet pills that they say can help fatties lose an extra 1lb a week - 3lb of weight loss per week instead of 2lb weight loss.

London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says "We were invited to help publicise these diet pills when they were first launched but we refused. We are opposed to them - they encourage the notion that people can eat the same unhealthy food and just take a diet pill to stop fat being absorbed into the body. These diet pills also perpetuate the myth that all fat is bad. Some fats are essential. It's too much saturated animal fat and processed vegetable fat in our diets that is the problem. Meanwhile many people actually have a shortage of the essential omega 3 fats and EPA which is needed for the healthy integrity of every cell membrane in the body and especially the body's vital organs such as the brain."

"Don't take these pills - eat more healthily, eat essential nutrient dense food rather than just belly enhancing calorie dense food" is the Nutritionist's message.

The commuter diet: Don't starve yourself, just eat | Health & Beauty

The commuter diet: Don't starve yourself, just eat | Health & Beauty

More of the same from "The Food Dr", nutritionist Ian Marber - but it really is that simple. They say that if you tell a truth enough times it becomes a fact, or is a fact becomes a truth.... Whilst the voice of reason is growing louder from nutritionists like Marber and Yvonne Bishop-Weston equally the likes of Dieticians, "Doctors" such as Ben Goldacre desperately cling to Diet Culture with advice that justs leads the general public to be more overweight and getting more ill. Ian leads by example he's not genetically skinny like many of the nutritionists following in his footsteps and is a healthy living proof of the pudding that optimum nutrition works. You'd never think this handsome guy was in his late 60's would you? ;-)

Free Weight Loss and Health Advice

The Diet & Fitness Show

Free weight loss and optimal health advice at Olympia, London on Sunday 24th January.

Leading UK weight loss expertYvonne Bishop-Weston will be explaining her no diet, no calorie counting approach to weight loss and optimal health at Olympia in London this Sunday afternoon at 2pm

Discover her secrets to sustainable weight loss and optimal health

Weight Gain is as Dangerous as Smoking | My City Link

Weight Gain is as Dangerous as Smoking | My City Link

A new study by Oxford University claims obesity is as dangerous to health as smoking.

Epidemiologist Dr Gary Whitlock of Oxford University, who led the analysis, said: ''Excess weight shortens human lifespan.

"In countries like Britain and America, weighing a third more than the optimum shortens lifespan by about three years.

"For most people, a third more than the optimum means carrying 20 to 30kg of excess weight. If you are becoming overweight or obese, avoiding further weight gain could well add years to your life.''

Sara Hiom of Cancer Research UK said: "Moderate obesity is becoming worryingly common in the UK and these factors combined are great cause for concern.

London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says "It's not just the reduction in years of life that people should worry about it's the quality of life that is causing so many problems. Science has come so far forward that increasingly Doctors are keeping us alive but at what cost?"

"Elder generations are suffering from modern non life threatening plagues that can make life truly miserable . Arthritis, osteoporosis, altzhiemers, stroke, diabetes can make life distressing not just for the sufferers but for those around them too."

Much of the suffering is preventable, early detection is vital to avoid the worst and most painful symptoms of these diseases.

A good nutritionist can not only optimise your body to boost your immune system and reduce the risk of disease but also test for very early signs and risk.

Seaweed fights obesity, researchers in Newcastle claim

BBC News - Seaweed fights obesity, researchers in Newcastle claim


Great to see a bit of seaweed research hitting the news and getting national headlines for seaweed again.

As followers of this blog, London nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston and Foods for Life will be well aware we have been singing the praises of seaweed and algae for a long time now.

A seaweed and algae shake is an excellent way for busy people (as seen with Victoria Beckham and Kate Moss) to get extra nutrients into their diet.


Two of our favourites are Pro Greens and Slim Greens although just adding a little chlorella algae to a fruit smoothie could help a great deal.

BBC TV and Radio reported today that Newcastle University researchers found alginate - a fibre found in sea kelp - reduces the body's fat uptake by more than 75%. That is better than most anti-obesity treatments.

However rather than just encourage people to eat more Japanese food such as miso soups and sushi their idea is to add it to crap food that contains a lot of trans fats and saturated fats so that people can continue to eat rubbish food and not get quite so obese on it.

BBC report Dr Iain Brownlee, who co-led the Tyneside team, said: "This research suggests that if we can add the natural fibre to products commonly eaten daily, such as bread, biscuits and yoghurts, up to three quarters of the fat contained in that meal could simply pass through the body."

AAARRGGHH! Nooooo! Their logic is amazing - so we continue to take the natural fibre and nutrients out of bread and biscuits losing up to 95% of some nutrients and using adulterated fats that poison the brain and a whole ton of sugar but we add in a little weenie bit of seaweed fibre in and all the world's obesity problems will be over!

London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says "Yes seaweed offers some important nutrients (such as iodine) to our nutrient deficient diets but if you want to lose weight and be healthier you have to start eating food for your brain not food for your bum!"

Buy Pro Greens Seaweed & Algae Shake at discount prices

High-protein meals may help overweight burn fat

High-protein meals may help overweight burn fat | Science & Health | Reuters
Higher Protein Meals Could Help Burn Fat Faster Say Aussies

Could superfoods such as hulled hempseeds help with weightloss?

In Australia lead researcher Dr. Marijka Batterham, of the University of Wollongong in New South Wales has released details of their research that shows higher protein diets could help obese people lose weight.

Batterham says "Our research suggests that people with higher body fat burn fat better after a high-protein meal than people with lower levels of body fat"

The findings, based on 18 adults whose post-meal metabolism was tested on 3 separate days was published in the journal Nutrition & Dietetics. Their average age was 40 years, eight subjects were overweight, six subjects had a normal weight, and four were obese.

When participants ate a breakfast with one third of calories coming from protein and only a third from carbohydrates the researchers found it was shown that obese subjects could burn fat closer to the rate at which thinner subjects could.

Nutrition Weight Loss Diets

Foods for Life Nutritionist, London Yvonne Bishop-Weston says “This is no surprise, we use protein to balance metabolism, moderate blood sugar levels and create nutritional sustainability so that you feel fuller for longer. Typically people eat far too many simple carbohydrates and I think this research has a much to do with reducing the ratio of bread used in the control meals as it does with the increased protein. It’s good to see someone doing research into type of calories and metabolism rather than just out dated calorie restriction. This research also proves the basic nutritionist’s premise, everybody is different and need to be treated as individuals.”

For an individual weight loss program that works see www.optimumnutritionists.com

See also Seaweed and Algae Shake

Weight Watchers and Slimmers at War

As ESSEX is dubbed an obesity "time bomb" after figures revealed nearly a quarter of people are dangerously overweight.: meanwhile Rosemary Conley declares war on Weight Watchers today

"Our slimmers consistently achieve astonishing weight losses because my diets are based on calorie counting! I really question whether WeightWatchers understand the mentality of the dieter with their U-Turn on their calorie based principles." says Rosemary Conley, CBE

Claiming herself to be the UK's leading Diet and Fitness expert, Rosemary Conley, remains strong in the belief that calories are the way forward and that they are the only way dieters will lose vast amounts of weight at a sensible pace and keep it off.

WeightWatchers is meanwhile apparently discarding its famous fat and calorie-based 'Points' plan, in favour of a new points system that allows alcohol and fast food.

"Tell this to a dieter, struggling to shift the weight, and they will think that they can do it every night. Dieters don't buy into the concept that this is reserved for special occasions only. Fast foods, like burgers and beer, offer little nutritional value to someone on a health kick. In addition it encourages dieters to eat junk food instead of selecting healthier meal options."

Leading UK Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston says they are both wrong.

" The trouble is everybody is different. The jigsaw puzzle that leads to successful, sustainable weight loss has a big piece that is based on emotional wellbeing and the psychology of motivation and compliance. There's no doubt that some people do respond well to the group support of weightwatcher's approach and the dictatorial Rosemary Conley approach. Certainly exercise is another important part of the weight loss jigsaw, but for many people neither approach is perfect or sustainable" Yvonne reveals.

There are a number of underlying health problems that can either thwart sustainable weight loss or make it frustratingly much more difficult than usual to deal with - these health conditions should be ruled out first.

Calorie counting is a very simplistic way to lose weight and can lead to easier weight gain in the future. Great for weight watchers as you have less chance of ever being able to leave the club but not the best for you.

It's nutrients your body needs not calories, so the Weight Watchers change is sensible but not if they still refuse to remove nutritionally worthless foods from the basic concept and opt for quality rather than quantity.

Likewise Rosemary's 'fruit is evil' approach is equally over simplistic and based on the assumption that all dieters are stupid.

By far the most successful sustainable method of weight loss is to educate yourself about what your body really needs and why, if you felt you had to see your nutritionist every week for the rest of your life we would feel we were not doing our job.

Of course some people don't want to think for themselves but we find when people actually understand the way to eat and why it's important and then start to feel optimally healthy rather than just 'not ill' they are far more self motivated.

"We rarely need to see clients more than 3 to 4 times unless there's a serious health condition to deal with, empowering patients to be in charge of their own health is much more fruitful not just for weightloss but optimal health too." says Yvonne.

Can Cider Vinegar Help with Weight Loss?

Cider Vinegar And Weight Loss

No one is really sure how the cider vinegar works. Some believe that the nutrients, enzymes and acids act as an appetite suppressor and increase the metabolic rate of the body. Others feel that it reduces the amount of water retention, breaks down the fat in the body and gives the drinker an overall sense of well being. Whatever the reason cider vinegar will be a healthy addition to your daily routine.

Cider Vinegar and Weight Loss